over the counter

3 synonyms and 4 antonyms for over the counter, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Of a medicine, sold legally without a prescription, so that any customer can buy it directly from a pharmacy or shop.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

OTC non-prescription off the shelf

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Of a medicine, sold legally without a prescription, so that any customer can buy it directly from a pharmacy or shop.

“Ibuprofen is available over the counter in most countries.”

OTC non-prescription off the shelf

Opposites

prescription-only under the counter

2. adjective finance

Of financial instruments, traded privately between two parties rather than on a regulated exchange.

“Most currency swaps are arranged over the counter between banks.”

Opposites

exchange-traded listed

How to use over the counter

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

available over the counter over-the-counter medication over-the-counter trading sold over the counter

Neutral and standard; commonly abbreviated OTC.

Etymology

From the literal image of goods handed across a shop counter, as opposed to being kept back and dispensed only on authority.

Full origin of over the counter →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between over the counter and under the counter?

Over the counter means openly and legally available to any customer. Under the counter means sold secretly, usually illegally or without proper authorisation. The phrases sound like a pair, but only one of them is lawful.

What is the difference between over-the-counter and behind-the-counter medicines?

Over-the-counter medicines can be picked off the shelf by the customer. Behind-the-counter, or pharmacy-only, medicines still need no prescription but must be handed over by a pharmacist, who may ask questions first. Both are non-prescription.

Do you hyphenate over the counter?

Hyphenate it before a noun — an over-the-counter painkiller — and leave it open afterwards: the painkiller is available over the counter.

People also searched

listed OTC

Nearby words

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